Earl "Bud" Powell (1924) was the pianist who adapted the bebop style of
Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie to the piano. He boldly disposed of the
left hand striding and of Art Tatum's baroque embellishments to coin an
anti-virtuoso style that relied more on melodic invention and on subtle irregularities,
while releasing an almost demonic energy.
His style crystallized during a number of piano trio performances at the turn
of the decade:
Bud's Bubble (january 1947), based on Parker's Crazeology,
So Sorry Please (february 1950), Celia (february 1949), Strictly Confidential (february 1949) and especially Tempus Fugit (february 1949) with Max Roach on drums and Ray Brown on bass;
Un Poco Loco (may 1951) with Curly Russell on bass and Max Roach on drums,
one of his artistic peak;
and Glass Enclosure (august 1953).
Hallucinations (february 1951) and The Fruit (february 1951) were
performed solo.
He also composed Bouncing with Bud (august 1949) and especially Dance of the Infidels (august 1949), recorded with Fats Navarro on trumpet, Sonny Rollins on tenor saxophone, Tommy Potter on bass and Roy Haynes on drums.
These compositions rank among the most refined tunes of the time.
His playing was apparently schizophrenic, but in reality Powell was "drumming" with his left hand while unleashing phrases at breakneck speed with the right hand.

The triple-disc Birdland 1953 collects 49 performances recorded between
february and september 1953 by Bud
Powell in several trios. Musicians include Charles Mingus, Oscar
Pettiford, George Duvivier, Roy Haynes, Charlie Parker, Dizzy
Gillespie, etc.

His major season lasted only those two years.
An alcoholic who had spent several periods of his life in mental hospitals,
Bud Powell died in 1966.